American Antiquarian Society picks up award at White House

Monday

Jul 28, 2014 at 6:54 PMJul 28, 2014 at 9:30 PM

By Nedra Pickler THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama presented the 2013 National Humanities Medal to the American Antiquarian Society of Worcester on Monday at the White House. Accepting the award on behalf of the society was society President Ellen Dunlap.

Obama said the award was "for safeguarding the American story."

He continued: "For more than two centuries, the society has amassed an unparalleled collection of historic American documents, served as a research center for scholars and students alike, and connected generations of Americans to their cultural heritage." The American Antiquarian Society was one of 10 groups or individuals awarded the Humanities Medal, which honors those in fields including history, literature, languages and philosophy.

At the ceremony, singer Linda Ronstadt got the answer to that question she's been asking for decades: "When Will I Be Loved?"

Obama hung a National Medal of Arts around her neck and revealed, ''I had a little crush on her back in the day.''

The honor was a particularly special moment for Ronstadt, who didn't make it to her induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April since Parkinson's disease limits her ability to travel. A military aide brought her into the East Room by wheelchair, but she walked to the stage to receive her award as a citation was read honoring her "one-of-a-kind voice" that paved the way for generations of women artists.

Eleven other recipients were awarded the 2013 National Medal of Arts, as the nation's highest award given to artists and their patrons, including DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg and Dominican-American writer Julia Alvarez, author of "In the Time of the Butterflies."